Combined unbalance and end of cycle signal for automatic washers

ABSTRACT

The coil of an unbalance or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;kickout&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; switch is employed in a first mode of operation to produce an audible alarm indicating unbalance in the basket of an automatic washing machine and in a second mode of operation to produce a timed audible alarm indicating completion of the washing program.

United States Patent [191 Getz et al.

[ COMBINED UNBALANCE AND END OF CYCLE SIGNAL FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS [75] Inventors: Edward H. Getz, Saint Joseph;

Roque Marcade, Stevensville, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Boston Harbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 307,645

[52] U.S. Cl 68/12 R, 68/23.3, 210/144 [51] Int. Cl. D06f 23/04, D06f 33/02, D06f 37/24 [58] Field of Search 68/12 R, 23.1, 23.2, 23.3;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,158,709 11/1964 Findley et a]. 68/23.l X

[451 Apr. 16, 1974 l/l966 Smith et al 68/23.3 X 10/1972 Getz 68/23.3 X

Primary Examiner-Wil1iam T. Price Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [5 7] ABSTRACT The coil of an unbalance or kickout switch is employed in a first mode of operation to produce an audible alarm indicating unbalance in the basket of an automatic washing machine and in a second mode of operation to produce a timed audible alarm indicating completion of the washing program.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MAM- COMBINED UNBALANCE AND END OF CYCLE SIGNAL FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to alarm or signaling circuits in automatic washing machines, and more particularly to unbalance responsive switch circuits which terminate the extraction cycle of a washing program in response to an unbalance condition of the basket and provide a corresponding alarm, and which are also electrically activated to provide an end of cycle signal at the end of a washing program.

2. Description of the Prior Art The use of unbalance responsive mechanisms for terminating a fluid extraction operation is generally known in the art. For example, the use of switches which are responsive to excessive vibration or excessive basket movement have'been employed to disconnect the electrical supply from either the drive motor or the entire control circuit of a washing machine. In addition, Edward H. Getz, in his US. Pat. No. 3,636,734, issued Jan. 25, 1972, and assigned to Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, Michigan, discloses a technique for terminating drive motor operation wherein the solenoid coil of an unbalance switch is connected in series with the machine drive motor and normally shuntedby a set of switch contacts which are mechanically coupled to the rotating fluid extraction basket. The impedance of the solenoid coil is of sufficient magnitude with respect to the impedance of the drive motor that further operation of the drive motor is prevented when the shunt switch contacts are opened in response to excessive movement of the fluid extraction basket. Advantageously, the solenoid coil is constructed so as to provide an audible alarm upon energization and such alarm is effective to signal the operator that an unbalance condition exists. This alarm continues until some positive action is taken by the operator to interrupt the energization circuit of the solenoid coil.

In-general, the appliance art also recognizes the provision of apparatus for generating an end of cycle signal. For example, an alarm device may be operated by the closure of contacts by a particular cam which is driven by a timer motor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an unbalance responsive device circuit having two modes of operation, a first mode in which power is removed from the machine and an audible alarm is provided in response to the occurrence of an unbalance condition in the basket, and a second mode of operation in which a timed audible alarm'is given at the end of a washing program.

The present invention achieves the foregoing object through the provision of an unbalance responsive circuit having a solenoid coil which is serially connected with the control circuit of an automatic washing machine and switch contacts, including serially connected contacts of an unbalance switch and of a timer, which shunt the solenoid winding. The solenoid winding also has connected in series therewith a drive motor operated centrifugal switch which opens in response to operation of the drive motor below a predetermined speed. The impedance of the solenoid coil is of sufficient magnitude with respect to the impedance of the drive motor to prevent operation of the drive motor when the shunt across the solenoid coil is opened. The shunt may be opened by a mechanical linkage between the unbalance switch contacts and the rotating fluid ex traction basket, whereupon operation of the drive motor is terminated and asustained audible signal is I generated by the solenoid coil, or the shunt may be opened at theend of a washing program by opening of the serially connected timer contacts, whereupon an electrical energization circuit of the solenoid is provided through the centrifugal switch until such time as the operation of the motor falls below a predetermined speed to open the centrifugal switch. It is clearly evident, that the last mode of operation provides a timed alarm signal.

Inasmuch as the operator may be attending to other household matters during operation of the automatic washing machine, the generation of two separate and distinct alarm signals provides the operator with unique indications concerning the progress of the selected washing program. An attendant advantage resides in the fact that the operator is provided with a signal which indicates whether her subsequent actions are to be concerned with redistribution of the load for continued water extraction or removal of the load for dry- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other objects, features and advantages of the invention, together with its organization, construction and operation will be best understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, on which:

FIG. 1 is a cut-away perspective view of an automatic washer which may be employed as the environment for the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentarysectional view of a portion of the washer of FIG. 1 showing the audible alarm mechanism and its relationship to the base plate of the automatic washer; and

FIG. 3 is'an electrical schematic circuit diagram of a control circuit of a washing machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An automatic washer, as illustrated in FIG. 1, has a cabinet 10, a cabinet top 11 having a lid 12 and a console 13. The console is provided with a timer dial 15 connected to a timer 14 to control the operation of the washer. The operations controlled by the timer include a washing operation wherein the clothes are agitated to remove soil, a draining operation wherein the washing liquid is removed from the machine, and a spinning or extraction operation where the clothes are centrifuged to remove more liquid therefrom.

A tub 20 has a concentric perforate basket 21 therein for receiving clothes to be washed. A tub ring 22 is provided to prevent splash from the washing action from flowing over the top of the tub. The tub ring 22 is provided with an opening 23 through which clothes are received into the basket 21. An agitator 24 is provided within the basket 21 to impart a washing action to the clothes.

The tub is supported by a base plate 30. The base plate 30 is suspended from the cabinet by three suspension rods, only a rod 31 being illustrated. The rod 31 connected to the base plate by a resilient member 32 and to the cabinet 10 by a resilient member 33.

A drive motor and a transmission 41 are suspended from the base plate 30 and provide a means of driving the agitator 24 and the basket 21. A reversible pump 42 is provided to circulate the washing liquid' during the washing operation and to pump the liquid from the tub during the draining operation. A clutch and brake assembly, indicated at 43, allows for engagement of the agitator 24 for oscillatory motion during a washing cycle, while holding the basket 21 stationary, and for disengagement of the agitator 24 and engagement of the basket 21 for spinning motion of the basket during the spinning operation. The transmission 41, the pump 42 and the clutch and brake assembly 43 are driven by the motor 40 by means of a belt 44.

Water flows into the machine through a timer controlled solenoid valve 60, through a conduit 61 and an anti syphon device 62 into the tub 20. During the washing operation, washing liquid is circulated from the tub 20 by suction from the pump42 through a check valve 53a which allows flow out of but not into the tub and a conduit 52 to a filter 46 where particles, such as lint, are filtered from the washing liquid. The liquid flows through the conduit 51 to the pump 42 and is then pumped through the conduit 50 and a button trap back to the tub 20. During draining of the tub, the pumping direction of the pump is reversed and washing liquid then flows from the tub 20 through the button trap 45 and the conduit to the pump 42. The washing liquid is then pumped through the conduit 51, the filter 46 to clean the filter of all collected particles, through the conduit 52, a check valve 53b which allows flow in this direction only, and a conduit 54 to a drain (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 2, a kickout switch mechanism 125 (an unbalance responsive device) is mounted on the interior of the cabinet 10 and includes a solenoid 126, an actuator lever 127 disposed adjacent the base plate 30 and pivotally mounted at 128 with respect to the solenoid coil 126, and a switch 129 for operation by the lever 127. As is evident from the drawing, excessive lateral movement of the base plate 30, as may be caused by an unbalanced spinning load in the basket 21, will pivotally move the lever 127 to operate the switch 129, as indicated in phantom.

Referring to FIG. 3, a washing machine control circuit is illustrated. The control circuit comprises a presettable timer having a timer motor 131, a drive motor 40, an agitate solenoid 144, a fill valve solenoid 145 and a spin solenoid 146 which are generally connected in parallel with respect to the 110 volt A.C. electrical supply terminals L1, L2 and selectively connectable thereacross in a program sequence by a plurality of timer contacts 132-141. An unbalance control mechanism, schematically illustrated by the solenoid 126 and the switch contacts 130a, 130k and 130e, (included in the switch 129 of FIG. 2) is generally connected in se ries with the aforementioned control elements in one side (L1) of the control circuit. A set of centrifugal switch contacts are illustrated at 147 and are operated to the closed position by the rotation of the motor 40 above a predetermined speed.

The control circuit further includes a set of switch contacts 142 which are operated by the lid 12 of the machine. The timer includes, in addition to the timer motor 131 and the timer contacts 132-141, a manually settable control knob 15 which is mechanically linked to the timer motor and to the timer contacts and which is mounted on a control console 13, as illustrated in FIG. 1. A water level control switch 143 is provided to prevent operation of the drive motor 40 and the timer motor 131 until the tub 20 has been sufficiently filled.

include:

Washing programs vary with respect to water tem perature, speed of rotation, speed of spin and the number of operations within a program for normal, delicate and permanent press washing programs. In a typical operation, the operator will close the lid 12, and ac cordingly close the switch contacts 142, select a washing program by selectively rotating the control knob 15 with respect to corresponding instructions on the control console 13 and then depress the knob 15. The timer switch contacts 133 are linked to the knob 15 and areclosed by such depression. The selection of a washing program closes the timer contacts 132 which remain closed until the end of the cycle. The closing of the contacts 132 shorts the solenoid coil 126 out of the circuit as long as the contacts a and 13% are engaged. When the drive motor 40 operates to close the contacts 147 and placethe solenoid coil 126 in the circuit, the solenoid coil 126 will not operate due to the shunt created by the-contacts 132 and 130a and 13%. The washing program selection sets a cam arrangement within the timer for subsequent selective operation of the contacts 134141, wherein the selected program may include: high or low speed agitation or spin governed respectively by closure of the timer contacts 135 and 136;.agitation or draining governed by the closure of the timer contacts 137 and 138; filling control via the timer contacts 139 and 140; and spinning control by way of the timer contacts 141.

If during a spinning portion of a washing program the clothing agglomerates, and becomes insufficiently distributed about the basket 21 and bunches to effect an unbalance of the spinning basket, the base plate 30 operates the switch 129 via the actuator lever 127, as previously described. This action will disengage the switch contacts 130a and 130b and engage the switch contacts 130a and 130a thereby placing the solenoid coil 126 in the circuit and removing the shunt normally effected across the solenoid coil 126. The impedance of the solenoid coil 126, which may be on the order of 100 times that of the drive motor 40, causes a voltage division in the series circuit so established such that the drive motor 40 receives insufi'lcient energization. The drive motor 40, therefore, stops and is maintained in its stopped condition as long as the solenoid coil 126 is connected in series therewith. Inasmuch as the timer motor 131 is also connected in series with the solenoid coil 126, it too is insufficiently energized and stops operation, thereby interrupting the selected program.

The kickout switch mechanism 125 latches magneti cally by means of the energization effected through the switch contacts 133 and 132 to maintain the machine in a shut down condition until the operator attends to redistributing the load by pulling the control knob 15 to open the switch contacts 133 which deenergizes the solenoid coil 126 and releases the magnetic latch thereof, and which deenergizes the remainder of the control circuit including the drive motor 40 and the timer motor 131. The kickout switch mechanism 125 is constructed so as to provide an audible alarm upon energization of its solenoid coil 126. The flux associated withthe coil when an alternating current is applied varies from a maximum to zero. This varying flux causes the actuator lever 127 to be pulled into contact with the core 126a and then to be released. This 60 cycle repeating of the lever 127 contacting the core 1260 causes the audible alarm. The alarm is efiective to signal the operator that an unbalance condition exists. Upon redistribution of the load and reclosure of the contacts 133 via the knob 15, the solenoid coil 126 is again shunted and is also effectively out of the circuit, and the washing program then continues under the control of the timer.

When the end of the washing program is reached, the timer controlled contacts 132 will open to remove power from the drive motor 40. Then, for the short period of time (approximately three seconds) that the drive motor continues rotation, the solenoid coil 126 is no longer shunted and is energized through switches 133 and 147,.and therefore will provide a timed audible alarm until the motor slows sufficiently to permit opening of the centrifugal switch contacts 147. it is therefore clearly evident that this latter operation provides a unique end of cycle signal by electically initiating en ergization of and energizing for a timed interval the same solenoid coil as was electrically energized through an initial mechanical stimulus for the sustained unbalanced load signal.

Although I have described my invention by reference to a specific illustrative embodiment thereof, many changes and modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. I therefore intend to include within the patent warranted hereon all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of my contribution to the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege. is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an automatic washing machine operable through a washing program and having a washing mechanism including a rotatable clothes basket, a drive motor connected for driving said rotatable basket and a control circuit (including a timing means) for controlling the operation of the machine,

an unbalance and end of cycle signal mechanism connectedin series circuit with said drive motor and said timing means, said signal mechanism comprising a solenoid coil, constructed so as to produce an audible alarm when energized,

first switch means in said circuit normally shunting said coil and responsive to an unbalanced clothes load in said rotatable basket to energize said coil to produce said audible signal,

and second switch means including a centrifugal switch associated with said drive motor in circuit with said coil and responsive to a completion of said washing program to energize said coil to produce said audible signal.

2. The automatic washing machine of claim 1 wherein said timing means includes a timer motor and timer contacts operated by said timer motor in a programmed sequence.

3. The automatic washing machine of claim 2 wherein said second switch means includes one of said timer contacts electrically connected in parallel circuit with said centrifugal switch.

4. In an automatic washing machine which is operable through a washing program and having a washing mechanism including a rotatable clothes basket, a drive motor having an impedance, said drive motor rotating said clothes basket and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the machine having a drive motor operated centrifugal switch connected between the drive motor and an electrical supply and opened below a predetermined speed of the drive motor, and an unbalance switch having a solenoid coil with an impedance greater than the drive motor impedance connected to the electrical supply and contacts connected between the control circuit and the electrical supply, said solenoid coil constructed so as to provide an audible signal when energized, said unbalance switch operable to terminate operation of the machine and energize said coil to provide said audible signal in response to a predetermined transverse movement of the basket, the improvement therewith comprising:

first means connecting said solenoid coil in a series circuit with said drive motor and said centrifugal switch;

second means connecting said contacts in shunt with said solenoid coil and centrifugal switch; and third means operable to open the shunt connection in response to the end of a washing program and provide a voltage division between said drive motor and said unbalance switch which will not support operation of said drive motor and which energizes said solenoid coil to provide said audible signal until said centrifugal switch opens when said drive motor reaches said predetermined speed. 

1. In an automatic washing machine operable through a washing program and having a washing mechanism including a rotatable clothes basket, a drive motor connected for driving said rotatable basket and a control circuit (including a timing means) for controlling the operation of the machine, an unbalance and end of cycle signal mechanism connected in series circuit with said drive motor and said timing means, said signal mechanism comprising a solenoid coil, constructed so as to produce an audible alarm when energized, first switch means in said circuit normally shunting said coil and responsive to an unbalanced clothes load in said rotatable basket to energize said coil to produce said audible signal, and second switch means including a centrifugal switch associated with said drive motor in circuit with said coil and responsive to a completion of said washing program to energize said coil to produce said audible signal.
 2. The automatic washing machine of claim 1 wherein said timing means includes a timer motor and timer contacts operated by said timer motor in a programmed sequence.
 3. The automatic washing machine of claim 2 wherein said second switch means includes one of said timer contacts electrically connected in parallel circuit with said centrifugal switch.
 4. In an automatic washing machine which is operable through a washing program and having a washing mechanism including a rotatable clothes basket, a drive motor having an impedance, said drive motor rotating said clothes basket and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the machine having a drive motor operated centrifugal switch connected between the drive motor and an electrical supply and opened below a predetermined speed of the drive motor, and an unbalance switch having a solenoid coil with an impedance greater than the drive motor impedance connected to the electrical supply and contacts connected between the control circuit and the electrical supply, said solenoid coil constructed so as to provide an audible signal when energized, said unbalance switch operable to terminate operation of the machine and energize said coil to provide said audible signal in response to a predetermined transverse movement of the basket, the improvement therewith comprising: first means connecting said solenoid coil in a series circuit with said drive motor and said centrifugal switch; second means connecting said contacts in shunt with said solenoid coil and centrifugal switch; and third means operable to open the shunt connection in response to the end of a washing program and provide a voltage division between said drive motor and said unbalance switch which will not support operation of said drive motor and which energizes said solenoid coil to provide said audible signal until said centrifugal switch opens when said drive motor reaches said predetermined speed. 